A Modern Take

A log home overlooking Deep Creek Lake is updated to create a clean-lined getaway for a Silver Spring family

July 15, 2019 1:54 p.m.

 

Nearly all of the log walls inside were covered by drywall, except for some walls in each second-floor bedroom, to create a clean-lined look. “I recommended that we leave the log ceilings in the dining room and great room as they were because the texture of those ceilings offered a nice contrast to the wall surfaces,” Kirwan says. The exposed logs were painted in the same warm off-white as the drywall to unify and brighten the spaces.

 

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The remodeled kitchen features new granite countertops and stainless-steel appliances. Wood cabinets were repainted and fitted with new hardware to create a modern look. A faux concrete-topped table from Pottery Barn is matched with fiberglass Eames chairs to provide a place to enjoy casual meals. Photo by by Erik Kvalsvik.

 

On the main floor, the centered entrance hall opens to a dining space and the expansive great room beyond. The kitchen and breakfast area occupy the side of the dining space nearest to the garage, and the owners’ bedroom suite is located on the opposite side of the dining area. Kirwan kept the basic organization of the rooms intact, rather than expanding the footprint of the house.

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The adjacent dining area is furnished with a Crate & Barrel table and Jonathan Adler chairs. Photo by by Erik Kvalsvik.

In the kitchen, wood cabinets were left in place and painted white in contrast to the new black granite countertops and stainless-steel appliances. The master bedroom suite was reconfigured around a new vestibule hidden behind a new sliding barn door to create a more private entrance to the space from the dining area. The master bathroom was updated with a freestanding tub, glass-enclosed shower, private toilet compartment and a vanity with two sinks.

Reddish wood veneer floors were replaced with wide planks of reclaimed white oak to maintain the rustic character of the log home and better fit with the furnishings. In the basement, where a guest room and an office flank a lounge with a bar, porcelain tile was installed to withstand moisture. Its wood grain pattern resembles the oak flooring upstairs to visually connect the two levels.

The result looks effortless, but the renovation presented some challenges. “There were some structural issues with the house,” Gosnell says. “The ridge beam in the great room ceiling needed to be stabilized with new steel plates, and the floor system had to be reinforced to receive the new location of the fireplace.”

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The master bathroom on the main floor was remodeled with a Kohler’s Sunstruck soaking tub and a glass-enclosed shower. Photo by by Erik Kvalsvik.

To cover the timber walls, drywall was applied over furring strips nailed to the logs to create a cavity for air to move and prevent the buildup of moisture. “We installed a venting system at the baseboard and at the top of the wall to allow internal air to flow freely,” Gosnell says.

Once the renovation was completed, Cado gradually furnished the rooms with a mix of contemporary pieces and modern classics. “My favorite spaces are the great room and the deck for relaxing and enjoying the view,” she says. “The great room is a very bright and open space. It is beautiful during all seasons, even during the winter with snow falling and a fire burning.”

In the great room, sleek sofas from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams are set on a rug from Restoration Hardware, now known as RH, and combined with a reproduction of the midcentury Eames lounge chair from Design Within Reach. The wood finishes and neutral colors of the dining table and chairs complement the rustic character of the log architecture.

Cado continues to tinker with the décor, admitting the house is “still a work in progress.” But, she says, “We love the way it turned out. We actually prefer it to our primary home.”

 

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Deborah K. Dietsch is a freelance writer based in Washington, D.C. She is the author of Architecture for Dummies.

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